Navarakkizhi, Kerala's
unique contribution to Ayurveda, involves fomentation of
the body with a bolus of cooked rice. Shastika or
particular kind of rice known for its nutritional value,
is cooked in milk and a herbal decoction made of
kurumthotti (Sida rhombifolia) . Four boluses are made of
this cooked rice and tied up in linen bags.

The fomentation begins with the patients sitting upright
on the droni
with
legs outstretched . The masseurs on either side perform
the fomentation process in an identical manner. The
movement of the hands during both fomentation and massage
should always be downwards.

The fomentation continues with the patient on his/her back
on the droni. There is also another attendant who supplies
new kizhis, which are kept ready in a decotion of warm
milk. It is very important to keep the kizhis at a
constant temperature. The treatment is over once
fomentation has been carried out in all the seven
standard positions.

In some cases, one of the three supine position may be
avoided and the patient is made to lie face down. After
the specified duration of treatment, the paste is wiped
off with palm leaf scrapers, a suitable type of oil is
applied all over the body before the bath.